Medion Akoya E2005D net-top PC

Net-tops are a new breed of desktop PC best suited to office work, web surfing and playing music.

All-in-one net-tops come as a single unit built into the monitor, while standalone units such as the E2005D resemble a standard desktop PC. The common ground between them is low-powered and low-priced hardware.

The Akoya E2005D is powered by an Intel Atom N230 processor, running at 1.6GHz, with 1GB of DDR2 memory and an Intel 82945G chipset. This is a standard net-top configuration, perfectly adequate for Windows XP Home, media playback and enough to run basic applications such as Microsoft Office.

With an Intel GMA 950 onboard graphics chipset, don’t expect the E2005D to play demanding 3D applications such as Fear, as we found it only managed an average of 2fps, with a puny overall 3Dmark06 score of 92.

The E2005D offers plenty of connectivity and storage. Its 160GB hard drive is enough for basic use and the DVD-RW is an addition you won’t find on every net-top. A single antenna protrudes from the rear for 802.11b/g Wifi, or you can use the Gigabit Ethernet port to connect to a wired network. Six USB ports, a D-Sub monitor output, 7.1 audio jacks and a 4-in-1 card reader will cover most people’s needs. HDMI is missing from the list, which could preclude connecting the E2005D to some televisions.

Medion has squeezed all this into a slim chassis only 6.5cm in height. Its glossy front bezel and small dimensions make it well suited as a living-room PC, and it’s also quiet. With or without a display, the E2005D is good value for money. Although its specification precludes it from some tasks a standard desktop PC is capable of, it’s fine for anyone who needs a PC for general use.